National Republican., 1887-01-29
Protection of American Fishermen-


Protection of American Fishermen
The Position of Congress Compared
with the Acts Which Led to the War
of 1919.
The bill OF protection which has passed
the Senate, and which will soon become
law by the concurrence Of the House,
is entitled "An act 10 authorize the Presl-
dent Of the United States to protect and de-
fend the rights OF American fishing vessels,
American fishermen, American trading and
other vessels in certain cases, and for
other purposes.n The act cannot be con-
sidered measure Of retaliation for any
past outrages on the rights Of our fisher
men, nor be regarded as any impediment
to the negotiations now pending between
the United States and Great Britain for sat.
isfaction and an amicable settlement Of this
fishery question. The bill enacts;
That whenever the President of the United
s,ates shall be satisfied that American fishing
vessels or American fishermen, visiting or
being in the waters or at any ports or places of
the British dominions of North America, are
or then lately have been denied or abridged
i'll the enjoyment of any rights secured to them
by treaty or law, or are or then lately have
lecn urjustly vexed or harassed In the enjoy
ments of such rights, or subjected TO unreason-
able restrictions regulations, or requirements
in respect of such rights, or otherwise unjustly
vexed or harassed in said waters, ports, or
places; or whenever the President of the
United States shall be satisfied that any such
fishing vessels or fishermen, having permit
under the laws OF the United States to touch
and trade at any port or ports, place or places,
in the British dominions of North America,
are or then lately have been denied the privi-
lege of entering such port or ports, place or
places in the same manner and under the
same regulations as may exist therein app!ica-
BILE to trading vessels OF the most favored
nation, or shall be unjustly vexed or har.
assed in respect thereof, or otherwise un-
Justly yexed or harassed in said waters, ports,
or places, or shall be prevented from purchas.
ing such supplies as may there be lawfully
sold TO trading vessels of the most favored ma
tion, or whenever the President of the United
States shall be satisfied that any other vessels
of the United States, their masters or crews,
so arriving at or being in such British waters
or ports or places of the British dominions of
North America are or then lately have been
denied any Of the privileges therein accorded
TO the vessels, their masters, or crews of the
most favored nation, or unjustly vexed or har-
assed in respect of the same, or otherwise un-
Justly yeXed or harassed in said waters. ports,
or places, then, and in either or all OF such
eases. 1t shall be lawful, and it shall he the
duty of the President of the United States, In
his discretion by proclamation to that effect,
10 deny vessels. their masters aud crews, of
the British dominons of North America, any
entrance into the waters, ports, or places of or
within the United States with such exceptions
in regard to vessels in distress, stress of
weather. or needing supplies as to the Presi-
dent shall seem proper whether such vessels
shall have come directly from said dominions
on such destined voyage or by way of some
port or place in such destined voyage else
where, and to deny entry into any port or
place in the United States OF fresh fish or salt
fish or any other product of said dominions, or
other goods coming from said dominons to the
United States, the President may, in his dis
creiion, apply such proclamation to any part
or to all of the foregoing named subjects. and
may revoke, qualify, limit and renew such
proclamation from time to time as he may
deem necessary to the full and just execution
of the purposes of this act
And then follows the penalty for its VIC.
lation.
It does not become retaliatory until a
new overt act Of outrage is committed
against our fishermen by the Canadian au-
thorites, when the President is authorized
to issue his proclamation closing the ports
of the United States against the vessels and
imports Of British dominions in North
America. 1t is simply protection to our
fishermen by signifying to Great Britain
that further outrages will be redressed by
prohibiting Canadian vessels and cargoes
from entering our ports. The issuing Of
the proclamation would In no sense be a
Cds,S JeHi, although should the British gov
ernment uphold the Canadian authorities in
future unlawful acts It might lead to rup-
ture between the two governments,
During the war between France and Eng
land innumerable outrages and yexations
were committed on our coastlng vessels by
British ships Of war, and such was then the
licentious spirit OF the British naval com
manders that they did not hesitate to fire
into our coasters to bring them to, and In
one instance killed one of the crew. The
neutrality Of our ports was grossly vio-
lated with impunity. In 1904 Capt. Brad
ley, of the British frlgate Cambrian, en-
tered the harbor of New York, seized q
merchant vessel-just arrlyed-and carried
off and impressed number Of the seamen
and passengers, setting at defiance the civil
authorities.
In 1896 the French ship mpericur OF
seventy-four guns, when aground on the
shore Of North Carolina, was fired on,
boarded, and burned by three British ships
of war, In violation of our sovereignty aud
neutrality. At the same time Norfolk was
actually blockaded by an English frlgate,
under the notorious Capt. Douglas, who OBJ
structed our citizens from ordinary com
munication with neighboring places, and
boasted Of the impressment OF American
Geamen.
These insults and outrages finally culmi
mated In June, 1907, by the audacious attack
OF the British ship of war Leopard on the
American frigste Chesapeake, which was
fired into without warning, killing several
of her crew, besides forcibly seizing four OF
our sailors under pretense of being Eng
lishmen.
This last and most aagrant aggression
added to the previous outrages and In
suits to our sovereignty and flag by the In
solent BritIsh naval commanders, caused